US Religious Freedom Commission Releases Annual Report 2017, Dark Days for China’s Religious and Faith Believers/ENG

2017. április 27./CTA/TibetPress

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DHARAMSHALA: The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2017 annual report on the state of religious freedom in selected countries on 26 April. In its report, the commission yet again recommended the US State Department to designate China as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

China has been designated as CPC by the commission since 1999, most recently in October 2016. Countries are designated as CPCs based on recommendations and research findings that they do not comply with international standards concerning freedom of religion or belief and related human rights, and defiantly dismisses what it considers to be international interference.

Under the section titled “China” in the report, the commission reports blatant violation of religious freedom in China in the previous year. “During 2016, as China’s President Xi Jinping further consolidated power, conditions for freedom of religion or belief and related human rights continued to decline. Authorities target anyone considered a threat to the state, including religious believers, human rights lawyers, and other members of civil society,” it said.

The report also noted the deteriorating situation of Tibetan Buddhists and the state’s increasing interference in religious practices of the Tibetan people. It particularly highlighted China’s growing attempts to vilify His Holiness the Dalai Lama, interference in the reincarnation process of Tibetan Buddhist lamas, the forced disappearance of 11th Panchen lama, and the ongoing destruction of Larung Gar Buddhist institute in eastern Tibet.

“The Chinese government claims the power to select the next Dalai Lama with the help of a law that grants the government authority over reincarnations. The Chinese government also vilifies the Dalai Lama, accusing him of ‘splittism’ and ‘blasphemy,’ including in at least 13 white papers on Tibet since the 1990s,” the report said.

The report further expressed USCIRF’s grave concern at the forced eviction of thousands of monks from Larung Gar institute before destroying their homes. “In July 2016, the Chinese government launched a sweeping operation to demolish significant portions of the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute located in Sichuan Province. Larung Gar is home to an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 monks, nuns, laypeople, and students of Buddhism from all over the world,” it said, explaining that the destruction at Larung Gar exemplifies Beijing’s desire to eviscerate the teachings and study of Tibetan Buddhism that are integral to the faith.

The report also drew attention towards the fate of Tibetan education advocates including Tashi Wangchuk whose focus on Tibetan language led to his arrest in a politically motivated charge last year. “In March 2016 Chinese police arrested Tashi Wangchuk on “separatism” charges; he is an advocate known for promoting a deeper understanding of the Tibetan language as integral to the practice of Tibetan Buddhism. As of this writing, Tashi Wangchuk’s case is still pending; he could serve up to 15 years if convicted,” said the report.

Based on research and the numerous findings that exposes China’s violation of international religious freedom, the commission made several recommendations the US State Department which include raising religious freedom concerns at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue and other high-level bilateral meetings with Chinese leaders, maintain contacts with human rights activists, press China to abide by its commitments under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, among others.

USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) that monitors the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad. It uses international standards to monitor religious freedom violations globally, and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

In a press release issued on 26 April to mark the launch of its annual report 2017, USCIRF Chair Thomas Reese, S.J. said “Overall, the Commission has concluded that the state of affairs for international religious freedom is worsening in both the depth and breadth of violations.”

“In the 2017 report, the Commission calls for Congress and the administration to stress consistently the importance of religious freedom abroad, for everyone, everywhere, in public statements and public and private meetings.”